Graffiti Blogs

Phorm Graffiti Interview

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:33:35 -0000

 

Canned Goods has done an interview with the graffiti artist, Phorm. Check out the interview here.

Future Shop 10k Contest

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:04:02 -0000

Future Shop is hosting a video contest that gives you the chance to win a 10 thousand dollar gift card to use at Future Shop. In the video you have to explain what your wish list is. All the videos are posted on the Future Shop site and only the top 10 will be chosen and then voted on for the best one. Some are better then others. This one is one of our top favorites. Maybe it’ll be the winner.

Idiot Of The Day

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:25:40 -0000

This video is hilarious. The guy in it describes how he can tell if the graffiti writer is a guy or a girl and what race the writer is. Basically he sounds like a complete ass.

Source: Revok’s Blog

Michael Rakowitz's ParaSITE

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:24:32 -0000

ParaSITE is an ongoing project by artist Michael Rakowitz (who we learned about via Charlie Todd's blog, Urban Prankster)

The text below was nicked from Michael's website. Be sure to check out not only this project, but his other one's as well.

"ParaSITE: Custom built inflatable shelters designed for homeless people that attach to the exterior outtake vents of a building’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The warm air leaving the building simultaneously inflates and heats the double membrane structure. Built and distributed to over 30 homeless people in Boston and Cambridge, MA and New York City.

PARASITISM IS DESCRIBED AS A RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH A PARASITE TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY EXPLOITS THE ENERGY OF A HOST.1

paraSITE proposes the appropriation of the exterior ventilation systems on existing architecture as a means for providing temporary shelter for homeless people.

PARASITES LIVE ON THE OUTER SURFACE OF A HOST OR INSIDE ITS BODY IN RESPIRATORY ORGANS, DIGESTIVE ORGANS, VENOUS SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS OTHER ORGANS AND TISSUES.2

The paraSITE units in their idle state exist as small, collapsible packages with handles for transport by hand or on one's back. In employing this device, the user must locate the outtake ducts of a building's HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system.

FREQUENTLY A HOST PROVIDES A PARASITE NOT ONLY WITH FOOD, BUT ALSO WITH ENZYMES AND OXYGEN, AND OFFERS FAVOURABLE TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.3

The intake tube of the collapsed structure is then attached to the vent. The warm air leaving the building simultaneously inflates and heats the double membrane structure.

†

BUT A HOST IS CERTAINLY NOT INACTIVE AGAINST A PARASITE, AND IT HINDERS THE DEVELOPMENT AND POPULATION GROWTH OF PARASITES WITH DIFFERENT DEFENSE MECHANISMS, SUCH AS THE CLEANING OF SKIN, PERISTALTIC CONTRACTION OF THE DIGESTIVE APARATUS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF ANTIBODIES.4

In April of 1997, I proposed my concept and first prototype to a homeless man named Bill Stone, who regarded the project as a tactical response. At the time, the city of Cambridge had made a series of vents in Harvard Square "homeless-proof" by tilting the metal grates, making them virtually impossible to sleep on.

In his book, City of Quartz, Mike Davis describes a similar war on homelessness in Los Angeles. He lists a series of these hindrances throughout the city.

"One of the most common, but mind-numbing, of these deterrents is the Rapid Transit District's new barrelshaped bus bench that offers a minimal surface for uncomfortable sitting, while making sleeping utterly impossible. Such bumproof benches are being widely introduced on the periphery of Skid Row. Another invention, worthy of the Grand Guignol, is the aggressive deployment of outdoor sprinklers. Several years ago the city opened a 'Skid Row Park' along lower Fifth Street, on a corner of Hell. To ensure that the park was not used for sleeping - that is to say, to guarantee that it was mainly utilized for drug dealing and prostitution - the city installed an elaborate overhead sprinkler system programmed to drench unsuspecting sleepers at random during the night. The system was immediately copied by some local businessmen in order to drive the homeless away from adjacent public sidewalks. Meanwhile restaurants and markets have responded to the homeless by building ornate enclosures to protect their refuse. Although no one in Los Angeles has yet proposed adding cyanide to the garbage, as happened in Phoenix a few years back, one popular seafood restaurant has spent $12,000 to build the ultimate bag-lady-proof trash cage: made of three-quarter inch steel rod with alloy locks and vicious outturned spikes to safeguard priceless moldering fishheads and stale french fries".5

PARASITES RESPOND TO THIS DEFENSE BY ANCHORING THEMSELVES WITH HOOKS AND SUCKERS ONTO SKIN, OR DIGESTIVE MUCOUS MEMBRANE, AND BY DEVELOPING PROTECTIVE DEVICES AND SUBSTANCES WHICH LESSEN DEFENSIVE CAPABILITIES OF THEIR HOST.6

The system by which the device attaches or is anchored to the building is designed to allow the structure to be adaptable. The intake tube can be expanded or tightened to fit the aperture of the vent through an adjustable lip made possible by elastic draw-strings. Hooks are attached to the metal louvers for reinforcement.

THERE IS "TENSION" BETWEEN A HOST AND ITS PARASITE, SINCE THE HOST ENDEAVOURS TO GET RID OF THE FOREIGN BODY, WHILE THE PARASITE EMPLOYS NEW WAYS TO MAINTAIN THE CONNECTION WITH THE HOST.7

The connection of the inflatable structure to the building becomes the critical moment of this project.

-------

Since February 1998, over thirty prototypes of the paraSITE shelter have been custom built and distributed them to homeless individuals in Cambridge, Boston, New York, and Baltimore. All were built using temporary materials that were readily available on the streets, such as plastic bags and tape.

While these shelters were being used, they functioned not only as a temporary place of retreat, but also as a station of dissent and empowerment; many of the homeless users regarded their shelters as a protest device, and would even shout slogans like "We beat you Uncle Sam!" The shelters communicated a refusal to surrender, and made more visible the unacceptable circumstances of homeless life within the city.

For the pedestrian, paraSITE functioned as an agitational device. The visibly parasitic relationship of these devices to the buildings, appropriating a readily available situation with readily available materials elicited immediate speculation as to the future of the city: would these things completely take over, given the enormous number of homeless in our society? Could we wake up one morning to find these encampments engulfing buildings like ivy?

This project does not present itself as a solution. It is not a proposal for affordable housing. Its point of departure is to present a symbolic strategy of survival for homeless existence within the city, amplifying the problematic relationship between those who have homes and those who do not have homes.

The issue of homelessness is of global proportions and it is foolish to think that any one proposition will address all the issues associated with this problem. There are many different types of homeless people. The mentally ill, the chemically dependent, those who are unable to afford housing, men, women, families, even those who prefer this way of life are included among the vast cross section of homeless people in every urban instance. Each group of homeless has subjective needs based on circumstance and location. My project does not make reference to handbooks of statistics. Nor should this intervention be associated with the various municipal attempts at solving the homeless issue. This is a project that was shaped by my interaction as a citizen and artist with those who live on the streets."

Shit We're Diggin': Jenny Abel's Film About Her Father, "Abel Raises Cain"

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:03:59 -0000

For over fifty years Alan Abel has been creating absurd hoaxes to fool the media. "Abel Raises Cain" is a very touching tribute to Alan, produced and directed by his daughter, Jenny.

For the next few days, Link TV, a non-profit with no advertising, is streaming the entire film online for free. If you're interested in learning more about one of the original "culture jammers" check out the film here.

Escif: The A's To Our Q's

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:32:56 -0000

Age: 28
Hometown: Valencia
Where do you now live?: In Valencia, but I try to travel as much as possible.
Where would you most like to live?: I really like a lot of cities. Every city has its great things, and I would like to live in many cities. In fact, it´s what I try to do. A bit in Valencia, a bit in London, a bit in Mexico D.F, a bit in Palermo....
Who was your first "hero" in life?: I don´t really remember, but it's possible that it was He-Man…Master of Universe!!! Jeje!!!
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: When your work is something that you like a lot, sometimes it´s difficult to see the difference between work and free time. In my free time I try to paint in the street and draw in my sketchbook. Also I like travel and see new places and meet new people.
What is your favorite color?: Sometimes white ... sometimes grey ... sometimes blue...It's always changing.
Who (or what) do you love?: I love my parents and my friends .... but especially I love the luck that I have had in this life; it's given me so many beautiful things.

Wooster: Who and/or what are some of your influences?

I'm increasingly influenced by many things of my daily life .... Formally I have been influenced by artists like Dibo, Os Gemeos, Logan, Herbert, San or Blu, amongst other greats. More than admiring their work, I admire them as people... Really great friends.

Wooster: What other artists do you most admire?

Conceptual artists have influenced me very much, such as Mauritzio Cattelan, Santiago Sierra or Teresa Margolles. It's not that our work is aesthetically similar, but in some way their work is present in mine, more and more.

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

My art is an investigation of daily life... I like to begin with personal concepts, investigating different techniques, and creating a parallel universe full of recognizable symbols.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have?

I'd like to learn how to do so many more things... to learn to dance well is top on my list.

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

I am afraid of many things ... but mostly the disease or death of my relatives and friends. Life not always is how we would like it to be, and sometimes we have to face it.

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

My major ambition is to be happy with what the life brings me in every moment. I believe that it´s necessary to fight to appreciate the present and not to depend always on the arrival of a better day.

You can see more of Escif's art here.

Kelsey Brookes: The Q's To Our A's

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:27:58 -0000

If you've been to our house, then you know that Samantha, our fifteen month old daughter, has the best art collection of the family. Her room explodes with energy from the numerous paintings that hang on the walls. Two of our favorite paintings in Samantha's room are by Kelsey Brookes. And the reason why we love them so much is because there's a spiritual quality to them that reminds us of being back in India. Kelsey's paintings make you feel good, and we want Samantha to wake up to this positive energy each and every day.

Recently Sara and I wanted to learn more about Kelsey so we asked him to give us some Q's to our A's.

Enjoy:

Age: 30
Hometown: Denver Colorado
Where do you now live?: San Diego California
Where would you most like to live? Inside of a wave
Who was your first "hero" in life?: The first hero in my artistic life was Picasso followed closely by Basquiat. In my life outside of art my parents were and still are.
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: Surf
What is your favorite color?: I have 8 favorite colors right now! they look like this

Who (or what) do you love?: Love its self, Curiosity and Creativity.
Who and/or what are some of your influences? I am constantly surprised by and absolutely enthralled with Hindu art especially from Tibet. I love the art of Heinrich Kley and I love quilts. Giuseppe Arcimboldo's paintings are a continued source of amazement. Traveling, surfing and hallucinations too.

Wooster: What other artists do you most admire?

There are so many and for so many different reasons. Here is the incomplete short list; Giuseppe Arcimboldo and Heinrich Kley (as I have already mentioned but they deserve a second mention I think). Indian and Tibetan folk artists, Quilt makers from around the world, CocoRosi, Folkert De Jong, Raquib Shaw, Andre Ethier, Swoon, Dave Choe, Antony Micallef, Paul Insect, Banksy, Andrew Schoultz, Lister, Kill Pixie, Faile, Maya Hayuk, Os Gemeos, Clayton Brothers, Yang Shaobin, Aurel Schmidt, Gee Vaucher, Alex Grey and so many more.

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

Figurative art depicting various forms of the human body deconstructed and loosely put back together using animal parts surrounded by psychedelic and spiritual patterns,
animals and colors. Do blind people get visual hallucinations? The art would be way easier to explain if they did.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have? Mediation and Music

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

Losing my mind

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

Losing my mind

Notes on Creaton:

Everything in the universe comes from something more fundamental than it self, united with accident and out of this union creation and novelty are born.

As a crow is attracted to shiny and colorful items it finds in its environment our human consciences can work in a similar fashion. As I sift though my environment separating artifacts of beauty from the ordinary, these relics settle into my unconscious. They dance within my subconscious as they freely associate with one another and through a combination of recollection and accident, they migrate once again back into my active conscious when I paint. Painting is the spark that my unconscious needs to liberate its new patterns. Random and seemingly thoughtless marks are visualized as animals and matter, all that is left to do is place the paint where it asks to be placed. I am a crow adhering to the universal laws of nature.

Notes on Conscientious and Painting:

Conscientious has 2 states of being in this world, aware and unaware. Awareness is the state you are in at the moment if you are reading this unaware is what you were before and what you will be after you are aware. These paintings represent
the only exception to that rule. Creation exists beyond the scope of physical parameters and universal constants, unseen by tangibility and rationality. A place where rules are fluid and dynamic, forever changing in accordance to the unknown.
These paintings are a product of this place this limbo between 2 worlds. When I close my eyes these paintings are what I see.

Notes on Introspective Conscientious:

Introspective Conscientious is the humans minds evolved ability to take images from the real world pull them into there minds, divide them into parts and start turning those parties into abstractions. Was art born when Introspective Conscientious
was evolved?

You can see more of Kelsey's work on his website.

Ket Graffiti Interview

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:29:33 -0000

Unkut has an interview with the New York graffiti writer, Ket posted on their site. Check out the full interview here.

Seen On The Streets of Oslo

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:38:19 -0000

Artist: Martin Whatson

"And In The Darkness They FAILED to Stay Up"

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:34:50 -0000

Unfortunately it's become somewhat common for work on the street to be stolen as soon as the artist starts having success in the galleries and auction houses. Last night Romanywg told us about a series of "Fake Faile's" that turned up on the streets of London, pasted up in the exact same places that the original Failes were stolen from.

They read "And In The Darkness They FAILED To Stay Up" and at the bottom it reads "History is made once again, it should have been a STENCIL". The evil hand of Ebay appears over the girls shoulder.

(Not surprisingly, one of these "Fakes" is already up for sale on Ebay already!)

Keith Haring Movie Trailer

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:27:40 -0000

Seen On The Streets of Amsterdam

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:39:45 -0000

The great thing about street art is that most of the time you have no idea why, by whom, or for what reason a piece was done. The anonymity of the piece becomes what makes it so compelling. Perhaps that's why we love these cups that have been appearing in Amsterdam.

Sickboy show

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:58:00 -0000

Gotta love the flyer photo for this show taken on the Millennium Bridge. Sickboy has placed a heart in a cage in front of Tate Modern. The same gallery that recently staged an impressively large if ultimately sterile show - sponsored by the N*ss*n Qashqai four wheel drive (city) off roader of all things. Sickboy knows where the heart of graffiti lies - outside.

All this heralds Sickboy's first major London show 'Stay Free' which starts Thursday 3rd December (private view - check website for invitation details) and is open to everyone from Friday 4th December. More details from the PR sheet below. Sounds like its going to be a lot of fun.

This December the highly-anticipated Stay Free exhibition, his first major solo show, sees Sickboy transform a Victorian Grade II listed building in east London into a 3D creative playground, bringing in inspiration from the children’s story ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. Packed with colour, humour and satire, the show is a culmination of the alternative reality Sickboy has created over the years, and promises to be the most spectacular street art show of 2008.

A long-serving artist with Pictures on Walls, Sickboy’s intricate, often humorous works have cemented his place in the upper echelons of the British street art movement. He will be releasing an entirely new body of works and themes for Stay Free which will be available as paintings, prints and installations.

This show sees Sickboy challenging convention once again by allowing one lucky guest to inherit his Stay Free Factory – an art installation worth £20K.

Spanning over 14ft, his Stay Free Factory installation – which will be bequeathed to one guest – features custom-designed windows, a veranda, and even a conveyor belt. 1,000 golden keys will be released during his Stay Free show from December 3, and the person whose key fits the lock will become the new owner of the Factory.

The installation has been created in the signature Sickboy colours of red and yellow. He says: “These colours are known to be the best combination to make people feel warm and fuzzy inside. McDonalds stole this idea off me...or maybe it was the other way around, I can’t remember.â€* 

This McDonalds palette also informs his now iconic street logo known as 'The Temple' which he has spent most of his career painting on walls and wheelie bins worldwide. A leading artist to emerge from Bristol’s infamous graffiti scene – and one of the first to use a logo in place of a tag – Sickboy has built up one of the largest bodies of ‘outside’ art works in UK history, and his temples and the recent Save the Youth slogans have landed him global recognition.

The A's To Our Q's: Edina Tokodi (aka Mosstika)

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:41:37 -0000

For the past year, Sara and I have been working day and night on a book project for TASCHEN entitled "Trespass: A History Of Unauthorized Public Art".

In the course of doing research for the book. we've had the pleasure of meeting and learning about new forms "unauthorized public art" that we haven't showcased as mich as we should have on the Wooster site.

One of our obsessions of late has been the "guerrilla gardening" movement. And one of the most influential artists in this scene is Edina Tokodi (aka Mosstika).

We're thrilled to share with you her "A's to our Q's":

Age: 30
Hometown: Kecskemet, in the middle of Hungary
Where do you now live?: Brooklyn, NY
Where would you most like to live?: in Europe somewhere close to the Sea
Who was your first "hero" in life?: Johnny "Tarzan" Weissmuller :)
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: Keep develop my craft and simply just not think about work. also reading, and watching a good movie
What is your favorite color?: green, blue
Who (or what) do you love?: Pityke and my Family. and I love to go swim or jogging early in the morning :)

Wooster: Who and/or what are some of your influences?

I'm influenced constantly by various experiences, meetings, readings; even by walking on the streets. What inspires me the most however is to encounter various media, artworks, or other people. It's the sincerity in a creative piece that I value the most; that it's made with heart and hand.

On the other hand I grew up in a very inspiring milieu. My parents and my two sisters are all creative persons, either in an artistic or in a practical sense. Very early on, it became natural for me to approach things in this way.

Wooster: What other artists do you most admire?

There are several landscape and environmental artists I like a lot, such as Goldsworthy, Christo, or James Turrell. There are some contemporary designers who influence me too, like Tord Boontje whom I especially admire.

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

I work with plants and other living or organic materials such as hand-made paper, sand, etc. I try to bring nature closer to city dwellers both with my street art pieces and with my site-specific indoor installations.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have?

I would love to be able to play music.

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

If we don't pay much more attention we may cause irreversible harm to our environment in the close future.

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

Certainly, my greatest ambition is to create more and more complex works that allow me to explore the diversity of and possible connections between (organic) materials and, still, to remain close to the nature.

You can learn more about Mosstika here.

New Krink K-66 Steel Tip Markers

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 01:51:29 -0000

Krink just released the K-66 Steel tip marker in 10 different colors including black, white, silver, red, blue, green, yellow, purple, pink, orange. For more info visit the Krink website.

Best Ass in the World

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:13:12 -0000

This is a video of a competition that was held for the world’s most beautiful butt.

Creators Of Wooster Collective Interview

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 18:05:00 -0000

Format Magazine has an interview with the two creators of the street art website, Wooster Collective. Check out the interview with Sara and Marc here.

Graffiti Perfume

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:59:59 -0000

This is a video of a demonstration of a new perfume that comes in a spray paint can. The perfume first shows up as a purple color when applied. It disappears leaving a fragrance.

Mike Giant on Vimby

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:39:21 -0000

Brian from Vimby got in touch with me about a new video that dropped last week featuring San Francisco based Mike Giant.

The video was shot on location at White Walls Studios in San Francisco. Mike Giant talks about his life.

As a child he moved from Upstate New York to Albuquerque New Mexico. He started painting graffiti in 1989 after he graduated from high school. He also discusses how he got his name and the progression and styles that he went through as a tattoo artist, graffiti artist and illustrator.

C215 Interview

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:43:16 -0000

Wooster Collective has recently done an interview with the stencil artist, C215. Check out the interview here.

Robert Burden’s Volton

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:21:42 -0000

San Fransisco artist, Robert Burden took a year to paint a man-sized Volton. The video show’s it in a time lapse as it was created.

Elitist Misgivings

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:52:34 -0000

Elitist Misgivings is an upcoming art show in Winnipeg. It show cases new work from ‘Lil, Relish, Decoy, Flak, Reetbot, Dylan Doom, Tyler Funk and many more. The show starts December 18th, from 6:30pm - 11:00pm.

Other Show In San Fransisco

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:46:41 -0000

The graffiti artist Other, has an upcoming show in San Fransisco. The show starts on Friday November 21st from 6-9pm at Needles & Pins gallery in San Fransisco. The show is titled, “Stolen Land”.

Alexandros Vasmoulakis: The A's To Our Q's

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:41:31 -0000

Age: 28
Hometown: Athens
Where do you now live?: Berlin
Where would you most like to live?: Here I am fine
Who was your first "hero" in life?: Michael Jackson.
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: Cycling.
What is your favorite color?: Always changing
Who (or what) do you love?: My love!

Wooster: Who and/or what are some of your influences?

Alexandros: Talking with people and listening to bizarre personal stories. My work is first of all human-based and I am interested in realizing deeper how weird creatures we are.

Wooster: What other artists do you most admire?

Alexandros: Theo Jansen is by far my favourite one. I think that the great art has to include numerous approaches to the main aspects of life. Jansen does it perfectly!

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

Alexandros: That's a bit awkward! I would say that through my work I try to investigate our troubling nature. And even if this investigation can never conclude it is interesting to see how far it can go.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have?

Alexandros: Music composition! What I like is that music touches and moves deeply a really wider audience than visual art does. Of course that's the point!

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

Alexandros: Losing the ability to do what I want. Secondly to lose my passion for that.

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

Alexandros: Still searching..

You can see more of Alexandros's art here.

(A note from Wooster: Be sure to watch the video of Theo Jansen above from the TED conference. It's amazing)

C215 - "The A's To Our Q's'

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:36:19 -0000

Age: 35
Hometown: Paris
Where do you now live?: Paris - Belleville
Where would you most like to live?: Morocco
Who was your first "hero" in life?: Indiana Jones
What is your favorite thing to do on your day off from work?: To know it I should stop working some day
What is your favorite color?: Blue
Who (or what) do you love?: my 5 years old daughter Nina
Who and/or what are some of your influences?

Ernest Pignon-Ernest is my main reference, being the first French street artist in history, and doing amazing stencils and silkscreened posters outside already in the 70's.

What other artists do you most admire? I am a big fan of the portraits of Stéphane Carricondo, from the 9th Concept crew, I love James Jean drawings and the watercolours of my very good friend Dan23. In the streets the best for me is for sure mister Banksy.

Wooster: How would you describe your art to someone who could not see it?

C215: I am for one year traveling the world to paint contextual stencils in the streets, mostly by day and without any authorization. I like to paint portraits, but also animals and complete streetscapes. You can find my works on tagged doors, rusty mailboxes or int he corner of your street. I like to interact with locals, where ever I go, cutting ad hoc stencils for each trip : Brasil, Israel, India, Morocco or Poland streets can not be hit in the same way. I try to express with stencils something not so easy to get with such tools : to provide feeling and emotions to the passing by people.

Wooster: What other talent would most like to have?

C215: I would love to play piano, but I am quite dyslexic

Wooster: What do you fear the most?

C215: Losing the use of my right hand or my both eyes (losing all this at the same time i would be very unlucky !)

Wooster: What is your greatest ambition?

C215: To teach my daughter my technical skills if she could be interested and make her proud of her father when she will be older

You can see more of C215's work here.